The TV industry as of late has seen many cancellations when a show is not immediately, massively successful, resulting in several great fantasy TV shows that did not get to finish their original story plan. The collective offantasy TV shows Netflix canceled too soonandDisney+ shows that were prematurely canceledis demonstrative of how the streaming era has not been kind to new shows, especially fantasy. Several of these shows garnered strong reviews, but not the groundbreaking kind they needed to be renewed.
Fantasy TV is expensive, leading to many shows being canceledbecause streaming services don’t want to further invest when they aren’t guaranteed a return. External circumstances are partially to blame; the pandemic disrupted the industry, while numerousTV shows were also canceled during the 2023 writers' strikes. However, fantasy shows that began and ended just in 2024 prove the industry’s unwillingness to bet on stories that might need more time to flourish.
10My Lady Jane (2024)
My Lady Jane’s Season Finale Promises More Of The Show
My Lady Janeboldly entered the TV landscape in 2024, seemingly a competitor toBridgertonwith touches of fantasy as a bonus. Based on the novel of the same name by Jodi Meadows, Brodi Ashton, and Cynthia Hand, the fantasy reimagining of the life of Lady Jane Grey is a wonderful new subversive fairy tale in which period and modern elements clash.
My Lady Jane
Cast
My Lady Jane is a Prime Video original series created by Gemma Burgess. The story is a “what if” style story of English royal history where King Henry VIII’s son Edward, Lady Jane Grey, and her husband Guildford all survive their real-life deaths. In the retelling of history, Jane Grey takes center stage, becoming queen and immediately finding herself facing nefarious villains.
Despite its fantasy and romance storylines securing impressive ratings,My Lady Janewas canceled after season 1 due to its failure to win over a big enough audience. With history having been rewritten inMy Lady Janeseason 1’s ending, the narrator declares:“Our story is not over yet.”
Amazon Canceling Its Most Promising Bridgerton Rival Is A Huge Mistake
Though few streaming TV shows have been as successful as Bridgerton, Amazon Prime could have come close with its newly canceled series.
However, despite the setup for a storyline surrounding Queen Mary ascending the throne entwined with alternative historical fantasy, it is apparently not to be.My Lady Jane’s stellar reviews suggest that it just needed time to build up its audience, but it is now clear that Amazon Prime was looking for an instant hit to rival Netflix’s romantic drama.
9The Acolyte (2024)
The Acolyte’s Creator Wanted To Carry On & Fully Realize Its Story Potential
The widespread take on the latest Disney+Star Warsseries,The Acolyte, is that it had a fascinating premise but poor execution. Built around a plot that delves into the long-standing corruption of the Jedi Order and featuring several noteworthy actors,The Acolytehad the potential to be an impactful addition toStar Wars. However, due to the story’s shoddy overall construction,The Acolytewas review-bombed upon release, leading to its swift cancellation.
The Acolyte
The Acolyte is a television series set in the Star Wars universe at the end of the High Republic Era, where both the Jedi and the Galactic Empire were at the height of their influence. This sci-fi thriller sees a former Padawan reunite with her former Jedi Master as they investigate several crimes - all leading to darkness erupting from beneath the surface and preparing to bring about the end of the High Republic.
Yet people seemed to believe thatStar Warswas hinting atThe Acolyteseason 2for a while. Based on the first season’s cliffhanger and showrunner Leslye Headland’s discussion (viaInverse) about what she wanted to do next,future seasons ofThe Acolytewere meant to further develop Osha’s relationship with the Stranger, explore Yoda’s culpability, and reveal more about Darth Plagueis.Strangely, Disney+ typically holds out for itsStar Warsseries but was rattled byThe Acolyte’s shockingly bad reception.
8Renegade Nell (2024)
Nell Jackson’s Highway Adventure Works As A Standalone But Deserved A Sequel
Unlike some of its contemporaries,Renegade Nellseemed to understand the harsh industry environment it was coming into. Season 1 more or less works as a one-off adventure, but leaves some unresolved plot threads behind just in case the show got picked up for another season.
Renegade Nell
Renagade Nell is a Disney+ original series created by Sally Wainwright. The series follows a young woman named Nell Jackson who becomes a wanted outlaw after she is framed for murder. During her journey, she encounters a magical spirit named Billy, who reveals her true destiny.
Before the show’s official cancellation, director Ben Taylor toldRadioTimes.comthat season 2 was being written and would include a time skip of a couple of years. ThenRenegade Nell’s cancellation was announced, another shock for the industry when it also had good reviews and won over audiences.
8 Best Disney+ TV Shows Of 2024
Disney+ has released several TV shows in 2024, but some of the streaming giant’s offerings this year manage to stand out among the rest.
Renegade Nellaccomplished the most dynamic blend of swashbuckling adventure and mild fantasy since the bestPirates of the Caribbeanmovies,which merited more consideration from Disney. Again, the beginner fantasy adventure was passed over in favor of long-running franchises, when executives were concerned with the genre’s standard costs.
7Lockwood & Co. (2023)
While The Showrunners Are Content, Lockwood & Co. Book Fans Still Want More
Lockwood & Co.’s cancellation is still a sore spot for fans a year later. The series was one of many to come from a beloved book series as streaming services searched for more fantasy material to adapt. But TV executives cancel these shows as fast as they produce them, and the fantasy adventure about a young group of supernaturally powered ghost hunters was axed after season 1. Even more frustratingly,Varietyreported:"[…] while Netflix was very pleased with the show, […] viewing numbers didn’t meet the threshold to greenlight a second season."
Lockwood & Co.
Based on the novels by Jonathan Stroud, Lockwood & Co. is a supernatural detective action series that centers around a small agency of paranormal investigators that face off with dangerous spirits. The only teenage-operated agency, Lockwood & Co., hosts three gifted hunters who operate outside the bureaucracy that holds back their competitors. With minimal resources and nothing to lose, the three teenagers will find themselves in a deadly conspiracy that only they can stop.
Season 1 covered the events of Jonathan Stroud’s first two books, with more material left to adapt.WhenLockwood & Co.’s future was still uncertain, showrunner Joe Cornish was ever wary about the possibility of renewal,never discussing any firm story plans. Cornish said toCollider:“I’m not going to get caught up in the whole, ‘Is there/isn’t there going to be a Season 2?’ We drive ourselves crazy.“After its cancellation, Cornish’s production company said in a statement, in which they also thanked the cast and crew:
“With heavy hearts, we announce that ‘Lockwood & Co.’ will not be returning for a second series. Making this show was one of the most rewarding experiences of our careers and we will forever treasure it. […] We also want to thank our brilliant team at Netflix U.K., who shared and supported our passion and vision for the show from start to finish. We are all very proud of it.” (Variety).
6Warrior Nun (2020-2022)
Warrior Nun’s Creator Is Still Trying To Complete The Show’s Story
Warrior Nunis one of the frustrating cases where the series made it to a second season, even making it through 2020. Executives might have taken a chance on it just being a slow year, but they canceledWarrior Nunanyway. Chronicling the adventures of 19-year-old Ava, who wakes up in a morgue and finds herself recruited by the Catholic Church to fight demons,Warrior Nunhad a fantastic reception but still became the latest fantasy series to be prematurely canceled,as well as another series with prominent LGBTQ+ characters that didn’t get its due.
Warrior Nun
Based on the comic series Warrior Nun Areala, Warrior Nun is a Netflix series created by Simon Barry. When an orphaned teen wakes up in a morgue and a mysterious artifact lodged inside her, she learns she is part of an ancient order tasked with hunting demons - and that she’s the chosen Halo-Bearer with unique superpowers.
Warrior Nun’s great world-building and character/relationship development inspired a huge fan campaign to save the show. Showrunner Simon Davis Barry announced last year thatWarrior Nunseason 3would be happening in one form or another, with a movie trilogy proposed as a possible way to continue the series (although this plan is also now uncertain). With season 2 ending on a cliffhanger and the team exploring various options to finish the story,Warrior Nun’s narrative was clearly not finished.
5Kaos (2024)
Kaos Was Very Popular, Before Its Cancellation Disappointed Showrunners & Fans
Kaosis yet another popular show that lived and died in 2024,starring Jeff Goldblum as a tyrannical, contemporary iteration of the Greek god Zeus. The show’s creator Charlie Covell responded (viaBBC):“Of course I’m gutted not to be making more Kaos, but I don’t want this news to overshadow what we did make…. I’m extremely proud of our show.“Meanwhile, fans have reacted with the common campaign to revive the show, and/or have it moved to a new platform.
Kaos
Kaos is a dark comedy series starring Jeff Goldblum as Zeus. Zeus is enjoying being the King of the Gods, until he starts to self-destruct after thinking a wrinkle on his forhead is a sign of an ancient prophecy. His situation becomes even worse when Prometheus develops a plan to take Zeus down once and for all.
Varietyreported that whileKaosenjoyed its time at the top of the Netflix charts following its debut, it did not match Netflix’s most successful series, and was therefore dropped. Critics and audiences enjoyedKaos’dark comedy and its repurposing of Greek mythology to comment on power imbalances, but this sadly wasn’t enough.Kaosmight have lived up to Netflix’s expectations in its second season, with more anticipation surrounding the return of a popular show.
4Willow (2022-2023)
The Creator Of Willow Hopes To Follow Up On The Classic Movie’s Continuation
Willowis a classic one-off adventure from Disney, demonstrating the same vibes asThe Princess Bride, buried in decades of more famous titles from the studio. However, at the beginning of the 2020s,Willowgot the chance to be developed into a bigger story with its own sequel TV series, featuring the return of Warwick Davis and Joanne Whalley, alongside promising new stars.Willowhas a natural setup for a legacy sequel when the baby girl who was the focus of the original story is now a young woman,ready for her own adventure.
Willow
Based on the 1988 film of the same name,Willowfollows a Nelwyn magician and an infant girl who are destined to unite their realms. Set over twenty years after the film’s events; Willow sees a ragtag crew of heroes led by the titular Willow Ufgood as they journey to stop the Gales, an evil group set on conquering the world.
Willowalso wasn’t canceled because of an outstandingly bad reception, but Disney+’s budget cuts in 2023. In particular, the cast and crew are eager forWillowseason 2. The mid-credits scene forWillowseason 1 implied that at least two more seasons were planned, while showrunner Jon Kasdan is still open to ways to finish the story, including a theatrical release.
3The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance (2019)
The Daring Dark Crystal Show Ends On A Cliffhanger But Hopes To Continue
The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistanceis one of the boldest revivals to come out of the era of legacy sequels and spinoffs. Serving as a prequel to the classic fantasy flickThe Dark Crystal,Age of Resistanceset out to create an epic fantasy series about rebelling against an evil dictatorship using puppets. The results were visually alluring, with a serviceable story that expanded the world ofThe Dark Crystalwith intriguing new characters, showcasing more individualism among the Gelflings.
The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance
The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance is the long-awaited prequel to the 1982 film The Dark Crystal. In the Netflix original series, audiences return to Thra and follow three Gelfing, Rian, Deet, and Brea, who attempt to save their world after discovering the truth behind Skeksis' power. Despite fans' love for the franchise, Netflix canceled the series after one season.
The A-list actors and writers involved with the show bore the responsibility of setting the world up for the original story to take place, despite the victory at the end of season 1.Age of Resistance’s cancellation has been attributed to the pandemicwhen it ended with multiple unresolved plot threads. With this setup, some are still hopeful to finish the story. As recently as last year, director Louis Leterrier said (viaMovieWeb):
“I won’t tell you, because I still have hope that it can come back. […] You know, it might not be me. It might be my grandson or, you know, Jim Henson’s great-grandson, but somebody will direct the rest of this show because we need to tell that story. And beyond. I mean, Thra is a place we want to go to.”
2I Am Not Okay With This (2020)
I Am Not Okay With This Left Behind Many Unanswered Questions
I Am Not Okay With Thiswas hoping for at least two seasons(viaBusiness Insider), as showrunner Shawn Levy said (viaEntertainment Weekly):"[…] we were never promised future seasons, but [co-showrunner] Jonathan [Entwistle] and I and all of us who worked on the show wanted to bet on ourselves.“AfterI Am Not Okay With Thisseason 1’s brutal ending, there is still much more story to tell as Syd learns more about how to use her powers, possibly with the help of a shadowy mentor, while continuing to navigate high school— a more volatile experience than ever in the wake of aCarrie-like prom night.
I Am Not Okay with This
I Am Not Okay With This is a Netflix series centering on the complicated life of Sydney Novak, played by IT star Sophia Lillis. Sydney is a teenager who is juggling life as a high schooler, family issues, and her sexuality. To top things off, she’s also starting to develop mysterious superpowers.
Both the graphic novel and the show it was adapted into cover much serious subject matter, linking Syd’s mysterious powers to grief, anger, mental health, and identity.I Am Not Okay With Thishas already deviated from the source material, which makes the abandoned second season ever more necessary regarding how it would bring the story to an end while remaining true to the source material’s themes. However,I Am Not Okay With Thiswas also reportedly canceled due to production costs exacerbated by COVID-19.
1Shadow And Bone (2021-2023)
Shadow And Bone Was Canceled Before It Could Tell Its Best Stories
Shadow and Bonewas also hopefully picked up by Netflix amid the fantasygenre blowing up in movies and TVfollowing the end ofGame of Thrones. The series brought with it Leigh Bardugo’s book fanbase, and cast some amazing actors perfectly matched to their characters in the lead roles.
Shadow and Bone
Shadow and Bone is a fantasy series set in a world divided by a barrier of darkness. Released on August 18, 2025, it follows a young soldier who discovers a unique power that could reunite her country amid a backdrop of scheming forces, including thugs, thieves, and assassins.
The one downside of incorporating the Crows' into theShadow and Bonestoryline is that their biggest heist is not the adventure initially depicted. This heist, alongside several other plot points, is set up to be the plot of season 3 by the final minutes of season 2.
8 Shadow And Bone Storylines That Will Never Be Resolved After Its Cancellation
The cancellation of Shadow and Bone means that storylines including budding romances, new leadership, and dangerous curses will never be resolved.
Shadow and Bonewas reportedly canceled because season 2’s viewership wasn’t as high as season 1.When some of the Grishaverse’s best storylines had yet to be covered, including the Ice Court heist and Zoya’s arc, Netflix should have taken one more chanceand tried to get the numbers back up. Yet like with many other promising fantasy TV shows, streaming executives axed the series too soon.
